Bad news about the Spy School movie — for now

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Hey everyone –

I know you have been waiting a long time for an update about the Spy School movie — and I am sure this is not what you were hoping for.  It’s certainly not what I was hoping for.

After 54 weeks of doing nothing with the movie script, Disney decided that they were not going to move forward with the Spy School movie.

Why?  I don’t really have a great answer for that.  I was told that Disney had some concerns with the story involving kids in real danger — which you’d think they would have been able to figure out was part of the plot long ago, given the title.

Sadly, this kind of thing happens a lot in Hollywood.  As I keep saying, it is very hard to get a movie made.

This does not mean the movie will never get made.  My agents can now try to set the project up at another movie studio or streaming service.  We will see what happens.

60 thoughts on “Bad news about the Spy School movie — for now”

  2. mr jefferson –

    It would have to be a separate movie — or TV season — for each book. It’s hard enough to get everything from one book into a single movie; doing all 13 in one film would be impossible.

  4. Mr Gibbs,
    I am really excited abt your new ss book! I am I big fan. I have read the whole series many times

  7. Mr Gibbs,
    I’m a big fan of the Spy School books, and they’ve inspired me to try writing too. I sometimes struggle to think of story ideas, so I was curious how you come up with yours.

  8. Elias –

    I am generally inspired by just being curious about the world: reading lots of books and magazines, visiting different locations, going to lots of museums and zoos, and talking to experts in all sorts of subjects.

  9. Dear Mr Gibbs, I’m a big fan of the Spy School books, and they’ve inspired me to try writing too. When is SS14 coming out and do you have the name of it? Thanks, Vihan.

  10. Vihan –

    All Upcoming Release info is in the Upcoming Releases box on every page of this website.

    I do not have a name for SS14 yet.

  13. Dear Mr. Gibbs,

    My name is Fatima, and I am a ten-year-old secret agent in training and a huge fan of the Spy School series. Even though I’m only ten, I can read and understand your books very well. I study them carefully, like mission briefings, and I never want the mission to end.

    This message is classified: I canceled my Disney account because there is no Spy School movie yet. I was really hoping to see one on screen. I sincerely hope a Spy School movie is in development, because I would be first in line to watch it.

    I also have a request for headquarters. Could you please add more Spy School books to Kindle Kids? I read many of my missions on my Kindle, and I would be thrilled to have more available there.

    Thank you for creating such amazing stories and for training young agents like me through your books.

    Secretly yours,
    Agent Fatima ?????

  14. Agent Fatima –

    Thanks for being a fan — and thanks for your kind words. I believe that all of my books are available on Kindle, but I am not sure about Kindle Kids.

  15. Hi Mr.Gibbs I’ve always loved your books and wondered if you’d ever considered writing a series or version of the book from other characters point of view (Ex. Erica). If not I think that many others and I would find the book enjoyable.

  16. Dewa T –

    I believe that a big part of the series’s popularity is due to Ben’s voice and that shifting the perspective of the main character would be jarring for most readers. I cannot think of a single series that has ever shifted perspective one book into the series, let alone 13.

  17. Dear Mr. Gibbs, I have two questions:
    Do you plan to attend author meetings abroad?
    Will there be an acceleration of book translations in Poland, as I only have books translated up to 2022, and later ones are even unavailable for purchase?
    Is it possible to order a book with an autograph from abroad?
    Best regards ??

  18. Nikodem P

    My schedule has not allowed for many author events abroad but I hope to do some in the coming years.

    I believe that the books are being translated as quickly as possible in Poland. Poland probably has the most accelerated schedule for my books of any country in the world.

    I know you can order an autographed book from abroad in the same way that you could order one in America, but the cost of shipping it abroad might be very expensive. There is not much that I can do about international shipping costs.

  19. Hi, which Spy School book did you enjoy writing the most? I am ahuge fan and am so thrilled to get to ask you a question.

  20. Joe –

    The writing of the SS books is very similar, but the research for them has varied greatly. Among the most fun ones to research were Spy School Goes North, Spy School Goes Wild, and Spy School British Invasion.

  21. Thank you so much for responding. I owe being a die-hard fan of yourbooks to my brother and sister, in which my sister helped me love reading, and my brother, who loves your amazing books. Thank you for answering my question so much !!!!!

  22. Also, I have one more question: if Svetlana Shumovsky and Erica Hale had a fight, who would win? This question has been nagging me for almost a year, and I just need to know. Please tell me

  23. Joe –

    Svetlana and Erica have had a fight. They had one when they first met. And it was basically a tie.

  24. hi! i’ve been such a big fan since elementary school, and your books are ones that never grow old, no matter how old i get. a movie adaptation would be absolutely AMAZING, and it’s something i’ve wanted ever since i started reading your series. watching scenes i only know in my head come to life on screen would be just so cool to see (as long as the movie is made well) and i know it’s not just something you can ask for and it will happen, but i know there are so many people around the world who would love to see it. me personally, i just wanted to write about how much all of your book series have done for me in remembering the joy of reading again in my busy life as a student. please keep doing what you’ve been doing so amazingly already!

    ps i’m trying to get my sisters into spy school too, because they’re around that age

    anyway thank you so much!

  27. Yking –

    If you can think of a company that makes movies or TV, then I have talked to them. Netflix included.

  29. David –

    I do not have a favorite book of my own in any series — or a favorite series of my own. I work much too hard on each book to say that one is better than all the others.

  30. Hi Mr. Gibbs I am a huge fan!! And I’m reading the Spy School series for my third time. I can’t wait to see that movie on my streaming service if it happens. Also how many more books do you think will be in the series? Just wondering.
    Sincerely- Jacob

  31. Jacob –

    I do not know how many more books will be in the SS series but can promise at least two more.

  33. Samuel Kennedy –

    I’m sure you would make a great Murray Hill. Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no SS movie or Tv show being filmed — and if one does film, I won’t be in charge of casting.

    But if something does happen — and there are open calls for casting — then I will post about it on my blog.

  34. Dear Mr.Gibbs,
    Can I just say you’re my favorite author ever! Ive read all of your book, not a single complaint. I know you will get this movie ordeal figured out. In the meantime, have you ever looked at the fan casting? It’s quite interesting to examine. Keep doing what you’re doing, and good luck!

  35. Kenzie –

    Thanks for your kind words. If the movie ever starts to move forward, then I will check out the fan casting.

  36. Your books inspire me and along with the many other authors I’ve read, you’re in the all-time-no-matter-what section, love your writing and best regards to wherever Spy School takes you!!!

  38. Mr.Gibbs

    -Regarding the SS movie, have you thought of a fun jungle or space case movie? I feel like they have less danger, especially the fun jungle series. I also consider an animation instead, resulting in less danger, and more familiar effect for the SS film, since the graphic novels are animation like. Thank you for your consideration!

    -Aaryaman Tugnait

  40. Aaryaman Tugnait

    I have thought about doing movies or tv shows for every book series that I have done. I have been trying to get something made since Belly Up came out in 2010.

  41. I love your books!!! I know it might be hard for you but is it possible to make all the SS books graphic novels as well? I love reading both chapter books and graphic novels. Especially the Spy School series. I am a big fan!

  42. Pax –

    All the SS books ARE becoming graphic novels. It’s just not possible to do more than one a year because the artist can’t work any faster than that.

    The first four have already been released. The next one, Secret Service, is out in April.

  43. dear mr.gibbs,
    i have read ALL of your series and I love your books. I also love capybaras and rabbits. if you had to have one of flora Handcock’s animals what would it be? what will be the next Funjungle novel title and will you please turn Funjungle into a graphic novel? i would LOVE it if you would respond because everyone in my family loves your books!

  45. The one zookeeper who is also a spy and an astronaut

    The correct response here is really that no one should have exotic animals as pets like Flora Hancock. Honestly, an exotic pet isn;t anywhere as fun as a dog.

    It is not my decision whether or not to turn FJ into a graphic novel. That is up to my publisher.

  46. Hey! I was one of the recently visited schools that you came to. Mcauliffe. I just wanted to say, I was going to ask if you were ever going to make spy school into a movie. I hope one day it DOES work out. As I am hoping it will MAYBE be in theaters? Or it will just come out. I hope you can keep working on this and maybe some day this might come true. I love your series! Thank you.

  49. Carter –

    I am doing everything that I can to get a Spy School movie or TV show made. Hopefully I will have some good news on that front soon.

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